UF IFAS Extension & Sustainability

As a partnership between the University of Florida and Sarasota County Government, one of our core missions at UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County is youth development. We embrace this mission, offering and implementing an array of standards-based educational opportunities and hands-on activities

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Radish Growing Project: helped third-grade teachers showcase plant science, scientific methods, technical writing and more for nearly 800 county students.
Tropicana Public Speaking Program: reached more than 1,500 fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-graders in Sarasota County schools, providing them skills to communicate with clarity and comfort.
School Gardens: now includes more than 60 schools in the county, and allows roughly 80 teachers unique opportunities to reach more than 1,600 students with education about food systems, science and nutrition.
Family Nutrition Program: led nearly 25,000 nutrition and health lessons/activities in elementary and middle schools, and partnered with school district and state staff on Farm-to-School program
Water Resources: provided citizen science opportunities, like the Florida Microplastics Awareness Project, to 16 teachers and more than 250 students
Sea Grant and Ecology/Natural Resources: developed and delivered a wildlife conservation and marine ecology program that reached more than 200 students, with plans to expand the effort.

While we continue to develop new programs, we also offer an array of learn-by-doing lessons that educators can bring to classrooms from pre-K through high school, with curricula areas including STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), business, citizenship, creative arts, and healthy living. Finally, each year we provide for teachers and others engaged with students a suite of professional enrichment opportunities, such as our ‘School Gardens 101’ workshop, Florida Master Naturalist training, Project Wild classes, the Florida Water Stewardship Program, Agriculture in the Classroom, and a host of others.

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Provider CONTACT INFO

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LIFE (Learning in Florida's Environment)

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Exploration Description

LIFE (Learning in Florida's Environment) in Sarasota County is an environmental science enrichment program, provided by UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County and designed for 4th and 5th grade to build knowledge, skills, and stewardship among students in Florida through meaningful field experiences. Some explorations are also appropriate for 3rd and 6th grade. LIFE provides an opportunity for

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LIFE (Learning in Florida’s Environment) in Sarasota County is an environmental science enrichment program, provided by UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County and designed for 4th and 5th grade to build knowledge, skills, and stewardship among students in Florida through meaningful field experiences. Some explorations are also appropriate for 3rd and 6th grade. LIFE provides an opportunity for students to act as wildlife biologists, ornithologists, entomologists, marine scientists, horticulturalists, and more with the hopes of making science and scientific careers more accessible.

The LIFE program in Sarasota County is a multi-agency effort that brings students out to public conservation lands for science-based environmental education, reinforcing existing curriculum and Florida standards through hands-on, field labs facilitated by educators, scientists, and land/resource managers. Students participate in 3 field experiences at State and County Parks throughout the year, as research has shown that multiple interactions cement concepts and experiences and are more likely to affect long-term change. Each field experience focuses on an unique Florida ecosystem, land management challenges, and choices students can make to decrease human impact on their environment. Each field trip is preceded by a 1-hour in-class presentation to prepare students for the terminology, concepts, scientific equipment, and expectations. Fall trips focus on Freshwater ecosystems at Myakka River State Park (labs include plankton studies and energy flow, orienteering and native plants, and bird adaptations). Winter trips focus on Upland ecosystems at Oscar Scherer State Park (labs include animal adaptations, plant reproduction and anatomy, and water quality). Spring trips focus on Coastal ecosystems at Lemon Bay Park & Environmental Center (labs include mangrove ecosystems with dipnetting, enviroscape, and marine invertebrate classification).

Educational experiences are provided free of charge. Schools are responsible for bus transportation and students bringing water and lunch to eat on-site.

As an adjunct opportunity, we offer a variety of 10-16 minute LIFE Science Short videos aligned to 3rd-6th grade science standards. Each video introduces a topic which is then presented by an expert in their field. 1-2 activities are discussed or demonstrated that easily done at school or home. Teachers receive a handbook that includes links to the videos, a brief description of content and activities, science standards addressed, and links to pre- and post-test assessments. Videos can be watched individually, or grouped together by topic or Big Idea. Program is free. Reach out to Dr. Katherine Clements for materials.

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Booking / scheduling contact

Dr. Katherine Clements

941-861-9822

kclements@scgov.net

Exploration Detail

Exploration type: Off-Campus Field Trip

Subject: Science

Grade Levels 3-5

Max number of students: 25

Length of :Exploration 1 hour in-class presentation followed by a 3 hour field trip

Location(s):

Myakka River State Park, Oscar Scherer State Park, Lemon Bay Park & Environmental Center

Standards & Benchmarks

SC 3.N.3.2	SC.2.E.7.1	SC.2.E.7.5
SC.3.E.5.2	SC.3.L.14.1	SC.3.L.15.1
SC.3.L.15.2	SC.3.L.17.2	SC.3.N.1.1
SC.3.N.1.6	SC.3.N.1.7	SC.3.N.3.3
SC.3.P.10.2	SC.3.P.10.4	SC.3.P.8.3
SC.3.P.9.1	SC.4.E.6.3	SC.4.E.6.6
SC.4.L.16.1	SC.4.L.16.4	SC.4.L.17.1
SC.4.L.17.4	SC.4.N.1.1	SC.4.N.1.2
SC.4.N.1.3	SC.4.N.1.4	SC.4.N.1.7
SC.4.N.1.8	SC.4.P.10.1	SC.4.P.8.4
SC.5.E.7.2	SC.5.E.7.3	SC.5.E.7.7
SC.5.L.14.2	SC.5.L.15.1	SC.5.L.17.1
SC.5.P.10.1	SC.5.P.10.3	SC.5.P.9.1
SC.8.L.18.3

Transportation

Is transportation needed for this exploration?: Yes

If Yes, who arranges transportation?: Teacher

Is financial assistance offered?: No

If Yes, is transportation included in the cost or is it an additional cost and what is the amount?:

Transportation is arranged and provided by the school, but there are grant options available through EdExplore and The Yellow Bus Program. Other options may exist.

Supporting Materials

2023_LIFE_flier.pdf

Program info

Summer or Family Programs Offered?: yes

PHOTOS

Plant reproduction lab at Oscar Scherer

VIDEOS

This video showcases UF-IFAS Extension Sarasota County's LIFE (Living in Florida Environments) exploration in Myakka River State Park. The exploration is part of Sarasota County Schools' EdExploreSRQ program.